Right now, there are some great deals on the market in Portugal. May and early June time see the summer season kick off, but with many people tied to school holiday restrictions or work commitments until July and August, holiday prices are at their lowest. A lot of resorts may be a little sleepy this early on in the season and nearly always a lot cooler in temperatures, but with 300 days of sunshine, Portugal doesn’t fall into this bracket. In fact, visiting this region is better sooner rather than later, as July and August see Portugal’s coastal resorts swarming and the scorching temperatures making it sometimes difficult to do much exploring. And of course, peak season holidaying equals peak season prices. Instead, here are three hot picks that showcase how you can get more for your money with these off-peak deals. Too good to be true? Or are they…Erica Bush finds out
Holiday village Algarve
Thomson Holidays
All-inclusive
Situated in the beautiful Balaia in the Algarve, Thomson is offering this amazing deal for just £468pp. For seven nights, everything (yes, everything!) is included such as flights, transfers, accommodation and all inclusive food (breakfast, lunch, dinner, drinks, snacks and ice creams). The hotel’s main attraction is the three large pools on which the complex is centred around, flanked by palm trees and relaxing sunbeds. One of the pools is one of the Algarve’s biggest; another, a large splash pool with colourful slides of all sizes. This hotel is great for families, with more than enough to keep the kids entertained such as a tennis court, a sports pitch, a children’s playground, an Aerial Adventure course and kids’ clubs complete with experienced staff and age-appropriate activities. And don’t worry, there’s plenty to do if you’re in need of some adult relaxation including an indoor chill-out area with a sauna, steam room and Turkish bath, as well as a fitness room. If that wasn’t enough, games like water polo are hosted at the main pool daily, whilst after dinner entertainment includes kid-friendly cabaret and live shows. Balaia is a small but quaint village with some great bars and restaurants and two beautiful beaches, one of which, Santa Eulalia, is just a 10-minute ride away on the hotel’s free shuttle bus.
Yellow Alvor Garden
Low cost holidays, flights & hotel
Located on the outskirts of Alvor, an ancient fishing village with stunning scenery and lively nightlife, this 4* hotel is an absolute bargain for just £306pp for seven nights (flights and hotel included). The Yellow Alvor Garden is a contemporary and friendly hotel complete with a swimming pool, children’s pool, indoor swimming pool and health club with sauna, gym and steam room. The resort centre is only one mile away where you can find an array of shops, bars and boat-fresh fish restaurants. The beach is also only one and a half miles away from the hotel where you will find a variety of water sports available. If that wasn’t enough, the nearest golf course is just two and a half miles away and there are four more courses in the surrounding area.
Hilton Vilamoura As Cascatas Gold Resort & Spa
LastMinute
5* Hotel
Even those with a higher budget can reap the rewards of booking an earlier holiday. If nothing less than a 5* hotel will do, look no further than this Algarve Hilton hotel, located in the heart of Vilamoura, one of the three corners of the Algarve’s Golden Triangle. This stunning hotel is currently on LastMinute for £733.77, a price unseen in peak times. Here, you are just steps from Oceanico Pinhal Golf Course and close to Vilamoura Tennis Centre. Take a dip in one of five luxurious outdoor swimming pools, or pamper yourself in the spa with a massage or facial. The hotel also holds a sauna, a 24 hour fitness centre and 176 air-conditioned rooms all complete with minibars, LCD televisions and memory-foam mattresses. This resort is sure to help you holiday in style and luxury in one of the most affluent areas of the Algarve.
For a full weather report on the Algarve in May/June, click here.
All prices based on 7 nights from Saturday 16th May to Saturday 23rd May.
All prices correct on 13/05/15
